Angie Koziorowski and her daughters Rowan, 7, and Meadow, 10, come to Porter County Museum all the time when they're walking around downtown.

"We saw they were doing sugar skulls so we thought we would check it out," the Valparaiso mom said while Rowan and Meadow decorated the white skulls with gems for eyes, colorful icing and glitter.

"We're really into Halloween and the girls have studies sugar skulls and Day of the Dead, so they think it's really cool."

This was the third year for the Dia de los Muertos celebration at the museum. This year's event, held Saturday, included bracelet making; paper flags; sugar skull decorating; decorating masks; loteria, similar to bingo; and a sampling of tamales and pan de muertos.

The crafts were a big draw for Rowan and Meadow.

"My mom taught me how to draw when I was really little, so I love arts and crafts and I love painting," Meadow said. Rowan agreed, and said she liked painting and drawing, too.

The celebration usually draws around 100 people but Halloween's rainy, cool weather seemed to draw more people to the museum, since more than 100 people had come through the museum doors two hours into the festivities.

Museum officials were drawn to the holiday's traditions, said Megan Telligman, the museum's interpretation and communication coordinator.

"We also are trying to diversify our offerings and focus on other cultures that are also part of Porter County," she said.

In addition to the crafts and other activities, the celebration featured a brightly decorated altar, though the one at the museum wasn't in memory of anyone in particular. The altars typically feature foods the deceased like, as well as pictures and other memorabilia, Telligman said.

"It's supposed to demystify death and not make it such a terrible thing," she said. "It's not supposed to be a sad thing. It's supposed to be celebrated."

Victoria Mendoza, 17, of Fort Wayne, beaded a bracelet, something she said she loved to do, and added she enjoys Dia de los Muertos.

"I like how it's skulls and I just love scary stuff," she said.

Her mom, Jan Patterson, said they came to Valparaiso to see friends, who planned the day for them, including the trip to the museum.

"I think anything that gets kids involved with something other than trick or treat is nice, and it ties some culture into it," she said.